End of Book 1

7 out of 37 baggies done. Book 1 of 4 completed. A pretty productive first day at Hogwarts!

Days 83,84&85 - Long Weekend

Long weekend just about coming to a close. Was supposed to be my first weekend with Katie so sucks quite a bit that it isn't. Actually sucks a lot. Had loads of cool stuff planned, most of which we can do if she gets over later in the year but not all :-( Plus when I came over, with everything that had happened, the light in the distance keeping me going forward was her visit. It is hard, very hard, to not have had that light for the last few weeks. 

However I've managed to fill the void with lots of ridiculously unnecessary purchases! Including some that will stretch my skills (and maybe patience) to breaking point. Still, it is much harder to better yourself if you don't challenge yourself. It is much easier to rediscover yourself and get to the real heart of things if you are giving yourself opportunities to grow and develop. 

It is still difficult seeing the way things are developing back home and just having to watch (especially when people you care about are really struggling with aspects of it). But you have to have faith and trust that people will do what is necessary, even if hard.

First day on the drum kit was a relative success, until I had to involve my feet. Then it was like an octopus trying to cook a paella blindfolded after a bottle of gin. Limbs everywhere, no rhythm and absolutely zero style. Good job it is electronic otherwise downstairs would have heard the sound of collapsing structures in their ears for weeks. It's all a process though, you don't improve without practising and you don't succeed without some failures along the way. It is learning from those things that don't go your way that is important.

Music Corner - where the magic may happen

Banjo was more successful - once I got it tuned. One evening of practice and I can now play (very roughly and with occasional mis-steps) both Ode to Joy and Auld Lang Syne. Once I feel comfortable enough I may even treat you to a rendition - just promise not to laugh at my concentrating face!! Once my keyboard arrives in a few weeks I may be 50%+ of the way to my own bluegrass band.

Bits of The Red Keep

The floor of my apartment is also a jumbled mess of jigsaw pieces as I try to assemble The Red Keep to join Winterfell. It's a bit easier as not everything is grey (and less of it is red than I expected) but it is still a challenge trying to slot everything together and make it all stand up!.

Add on to that the daily Spanish lessons and the ongoing books/games etc. and it's no wonder the time flies past. Hopefully it'll fly to such an extent that it only feels like days between now and when Katie finally touches down on US soil.

A place for contemplation - and the weather for it!

In other news, does anyone know how much a horse costs? Asking for a friend!

Till tomorrow,

Tom

Days 81&82 - Keeping Busy

The last week or so has definitely felt like a transition between things. It is no longer feeling like a short-term trip and more and more like I am here for the year (which obviously I am). I'm not sure why it is now that this has suddenly happened - other than the amount of time I've had to spend in the apartment due to the virus has gone up drastically in the last few weeks. 

I've also made more and more touches around the apartment which are making me feel like this is a more permanent home. And I think this is now the longest single trip away, so maybe that has contributed too.

Part of those "touches" has involved getting myself on with some new hobbies. As well as taking up Spanish, jigsaw puzzles and rediscovering my PS4, I've also branched out into gardening (well, the long-term Bonsai plan) and, more recently, music. As you can see in the video I have decided to embrace my complete lack of musical skill and try to learn an instrument - actually several. The first one to arrive is the banjo, so good luck to the neighbours!

The Office

I find it so important to keep busy. Time can be so fleeting and I think I owe it to myself to try and use it as productively as possible. Plus it helps take my mind of things going on around the world, not to mention some things about my life that I prefer not to dwell on. But it is also important to have variety. To have different ways of relaxing. Some that challenge the brain, some that don't. Physical ones, mental ones, a combination of the two - variety really is the key to keeping anything interesting and fresh.

It's not easy with the restrictions that are in place, and don't seem to be going anywhere soon, but there are 100s of ways out there to keep yourself (and others) entertained. And with modern technology it is becoming more and more practical to spend that time with others as well. 

Katie and I have been doing her schoolwork together the last few days - hopefully freeing Nat up to get on with her uni work and wait for the inevitable call to arms from the NHS. And that's the other key, working together to keep others engaged and entertained through this difficult time takes team-work and some level of sacrifice. 

Tasty Chilli

Being busy is all part of modern life. It's being the right kind of busy that I've been working towards over the last few weeks. Now where did I put the banjo?!

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 78 - Read the instructions

Really good first weekend in the lockdown. Managed to get out to do a bit of shopping but generally spent it in the company of friends. Sunday carried on the theme of Saturday really. I caught up with Katie again, this time as she was doing one of her Christmas craft packs. She's got (or at least had before there was a mass cull) literally dozens of these lying around the bedroom. From "knit your own" scarves to science projects and slime kits through geology kits and "do-it-yourself" crafts.

Today's episode of Katie Crafts (her idea, but I'm running with it as a brand now) was making lip balm. It is so good seeing her embracing the creative side of things during this lockdown instead of resorting to the easy route out of being glued to some sort of electronic device. 

Way too many kids already spend a lot of time on their devices and I think it behoves us all as adults to bring back a sense of creativity and ingenuity. We've got a good chance to break the cycle here, don't take the easy route out. Now of course it is easy for me to say that as I'm on my own over here and you are likely having to deal with your kids and their boredom level 24/7 - but I'll swap you in a heartbeat. I'd take a year of having to keep Katie entertained full time over being on my own and free to indulge my own interests. Don't take it for granted.

Speaking of interests, my exciting new hobby arrived Friday - a bonsai treen starter kit. Imagine my excitement in opening the box, checking the contents, reading the little manual on how to do it. Now imagine the look on the face at instruction 6 - "within 2-3 years your tree will be ready for training"! TWO TO THREE YEARS!!! Talk about a long term investment, I could go get another degree in that time. Still, true investments take time to come to fruition. Things that are worth having don't come easy and you can't shy away when the going gets tough. So the seeds are soaking and the first step in the cycle has begun. Please check back in 2-3 years for further results!!

A couple of other new hobbies are on the horizon too. All I'll say is be glad I'm 4000 miles away and you can't hear me. Oh my neighbours are going to hate me. They might even stop their nighttime adventures long enough to complain. I hope they do lol.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Days 76&77 - Find a way

I'm writing this at 11pm after one of those unexpected days that help to remind you of the power of communication and the benefits of making that connection. My Friday was pretty uneventful, working from home and generally just trying to stay sane in amongst the complete madness of what is happening here.

Saturday on the other hand, was just awesome. 

Firstly, my daughter scared the living daylights out of me at about 5am by sending a message to my Echo - "Daddy are you up?". I don't think anything has made me move as quick in years! 

In her defence, I did tell her on Friday night that she could call me 24/7 and I'd always be there. However for context, I've been away for 77 days now and I can safely say that she has called me out of choice about twice. The rest of the time I've had to employ the trick of getting Nat to make her do it! So it was nice, if unexpected.

We then spent the next 4-5 hours hanging out. She baked banana bread (didn't save me any) and then put this awesome 3D Eiffel Tower jigsaw together. I might have dozed off a couple of times (but not for long). I contributed nothing to either the baking or the jigsaw, but I loved every second of it.

The finished product

It was amazing. 

It just shows that this virus lockdown is no reason not to spend time with those you love. With a bit of willpower and a pinch of initiative there is NO excuse that I'll accept for not reaching out and making those memories. 

There is no reason not to be there, even in spirit. We are 4000 miles away and still managed to hang out - for longer than we used to do when I was home probably! 

And if that wasn't enough the afternoon was mainly taken up with a lads afternoon! A few beers and some great chat, ranging from the virus itself through craft beer, "classic era" WWF/E and Lego Batmobiles. 

For those who haven't given it a go yet, I'd thoroughly recommend the HouseParty app. Pretty much just a simple video chat app but it allowed me, Dan, Gareth and Baz to catch up from four locations pretty much seamlessly - despite a minor overheating issue with my phone and Cadman's inability to keep himself in our shots!

I hadn't realised how much I had missed that interaction. How nice it was just to drink some beers and put the world to rights. We take for granted these people in our lives and we shouldn't. 

My hope is that this virus will change the way the world thinks, for the better. 

It will remind us that everything is fleeting and you never know when it might be gone. But it will also show us that this shouldn't be seen as a bad thing, instead it should be a daily reminder to seize the day. It should be the incentive to live more in the here and now. 

We worry so much about the future, and have so little control over it. But the present, well, the present is something you can influence, something you can shape. So embrace it, mould it, shape it to your will. If you think about doing something, go do it. If you miss someone, call them. If you want to spend time with people you are isolated from, find a way. 

That's the key to all of this. Excuses are easy. Don't hide behind them. Don't use them as an "out". Take some responsibility. Own it. Grasp the nettle.

FIND. A. WAY.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 69 - Incoming

Judging from the latest information coming out of the Governor's office it seems like a Louisiana Lockdown is inevitable. maybe as soon as tomorrow. His recent statement that if we don't do anything we face the worst-case scenario is alarming in itself. Even more alarming is watching the local news and realising that people still aren't taking this seriously.

"I'm not at risk so why should my life be inconvenienced" appears to be the most common response. Dangerous thinking guys. The needs of the many and all that? 

As things stand it is business as usual at work, but we'll keep an eye on that daily. 

Followed this guy to work today, I think he has the right handle on this whole virus thing (zoom in)!

Anyway, as I'm nothing if not proactive (maybe) I had stocked up on things to keep me busy when I'm stuck within these (roughly) four walls. I've already started yoga and a 30 day abs challenge, but keeping the mental side of things ticking over is just as important. 

A quick trip to the local Barnes and Noble, complete with the requisite social distancing, yielded the following haul + Winterfell (see the video). This should keep the grey matter stimulated for a few weeks at least. Especially those 3D ones, wow they look pretty complicated. 

This whole lot still cost less than a Lego Millenium Falcon. No wonder lego was revenue somewhere in the $4-5bn per year range at those prices!

So we'll see how this all shakes itself out. Not much else we can do in these interesting times. Hope you all stay safe, look after each other and use this as an opportunity to re-evaluate how you want to live your life and what is important to you. I know I will be.

Till tomorrow, Tom

Days 66,67,68 - Survive the isolation

My whole plan to do a blog every day has kind gone out now the window recently. However this is my attempt to get myself back on track. I'm covering three in one and then I'll be back to doing this daily. Obviously my plan to show you around the delights of Texas and Louisiana is a bit scuppered by the latest developments - and no-one should be surprised that I'm maybe the only person who can come for a year to the USA and spend possibly 6 months of it quarantined or unable to go out properly. I don't want pity, but a quick look at the last couple of years doesn't show me to be the kind of person you'd bet on to get lucky on the toss of a coin.

This virus is taking its toll on the world already. I've no doubt we'll come out of it but the world may be changed beyond recognition. There will be some many businesses that go, so many habits that change and so many things we take for granted that might need re-assessing for the long term. I'm not going to lie, it is scary. And very lonely being so far away from those that I love. Watching from a distance is always the hardest thing, and not being able to be there for Katie when she needs me.

But you must try to look for slivers of light in any shadow, because they are always there. Perhaps this enforced change of pace might allow us to take more time for ourselves, more time to spend on less hectic and intense pursuits. There is also the possibility that it drives people farther into social isolation and more frequently (if possible) onto their devices. However I choose to believe that this will encourage people to find more ways of staying engaged with each other - for the sake of companionship rather than ease or laziness. And there are individual activities that we can do as well to keep ourselves entertained during this difficult time, some internal but also some external. 

I've not included obvious stuff like Netflix binge or PS4 nights as I'm trying to expand my horizons, but I have put together Tom's 10 Point Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide of Coolish Things to Do. Or, to give it a better acronym, TTPZASGOCTTD:

1) Learn a language. I've been full steam ahead learning Spanish on Duolingo and it is a great way to pass the time and pick up a new skill. I'd recommend getting a verb book as well (I picked up this one from Amazon) because Duolingo isn't quite as structured as it could be. But I've picked up loads in the last few months and it has been relatively easy to do so with just 10-15 minutes each night.

2) Listen to a book. Those who know me know I'm a pretty avid reader. But now might be the time to jump on Audible and grab something different to keep you entertained. I listen to Audible at work, in the car, in then gym, whilst doing chores and it makes the time pass very nicely.

3) Yoga. I've just signed up for this (Day 1 is tomorrow) so I'll let you know how it goes. A good way to start the day if the gym is no longer an option. Plus if you twin it with a little work-out blast in the evening (see below) you'll be invigorating body morning and night.

4) Jigsaws/Puzzles. Another way to keep the mind active is jigsaws and puzzles. Everyone has one lying around the house somewhere, or if not you can get one delivered in by Amazon (amongst others) if you need to keep your social distance. I've been hammering through Nonograms most nights and they help to both keep the mind busy and also defrag from the busy work days.

5) Movie night. There are a whole host of movie projectors going on places like Amazon for less than $100. Grab one, WhatsApp Video (or FaceTime) your mates and you can recreate those cinema trips despite the current social isolation. And no-one is going to steal your popcorn either!

6) Correspondence Games. Not everyone's cup of tea but there are loads of websites where you can go find yourself a partner for a spot of chess (amongst other games). What used to be done by letter over a period of months can now be played almost instantly through the magic of the Internet. But try and find one with humans on the other end so you can keep the grey matter intact and interact at the same time.

7) Set yourself a physical challenge. There are millions out there. Literally. Go find one and use the time at home to work through it. I've got this one on the go at the moment. It's helping with my back pain and also trying to get my abs back to pre-2000 levels. Not eating out and having a beer in the bar at night also helps!

8) Bonsai! That's right. The Japanese art of cultivating mini-trees is perfect for those days and nights in. Mine is on the way. I'll keep you posted with how I get on but don't hold your breathe - I've never been particularly green fingered.

9) Plan a trip. It won't be like this forever. Plan a trip. Plan two trips. But be adventurous. Don't just pick a simple 2 weeks all-inclusive in Mexico. Go big. Travel Coast-to-Coast. Walk the Great Wall. Hike the Andes. Throw all your imagination into the biggest adventure you can think of. You might even get to do it if you save all your pennies.

10) Do something spontaneous. Go find your own and let me know in the comments.

Safe safe, love each other and remember what is important.
Till tomorrow, Tom

Day 51 - The Human Spirit

Having already posted once today I was scratching around for something to write about today. I wanted something bright and breezy as, well to be honest, I've had a few beers and a bite to eat and I'm feeling sleepy! Messing about on YouTube I found myself - yup that's right, me. 5 and a bit years I did a thing called an Ignite Talk.

The basic gist of this event is that you get 20 slides over 5 minutes to talk about any topic of your choosing. Each slide is on for 15 seconds before automatically advanced so you have to keep it snappy and interesting. My topic of choice? The Many World Championships of Finland.

6 years ago (I think - Poppy was born when I was away and I think she is 6 #baduncle) I spent about 2 months in Finland with my work. 

As I've already talked about in a previous blog, I love to absorb as much of the culture as possible when I'm away - and it was this that lead me to discover just how many world championship events Finland hosts. Included amongst those "sports" where you can be crowned world's best are: Mobile Phone Throwing, Mosquito Squashing, Swamp Football, Air Guitar and (my personal favourite) Wife Carrying!

It seems to be an interesting function of humankind that we can make a sport (or certainly an event) out of almost anything. Even the most humdrum activities can be "jazzed up" by making a competition of it. Toe Wrestling for example is now an event with its own world championships.

I love the human spirit when it comes to these kind of things. It reminds us all not to take things too seriously and to remember that most of the stresses we bring upon ourselves (especially in the Western world) are relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things. So next time you find yourself faced with a task or a situation that you aren't too keen on, my advice is pretty simple - invent a "World Championships" for that task and bask in the glory of success when you beat all comers.

Of course the trick is to find something that no-one else can beat you at, but that is probably all part of the fun. I remember being a child and wanting to be World Champion at something. I thought that opportunity had passed me by but I have new hope now; there is bound to be something I'm better than everybody else at! Surely?!

Till tomorrow,

Tom